12 children’s books that will make every mum cry

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always.""As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."This one has made mums all over the world cry ever since it was first published in 1995 - and it's easy to see why. Spinning a beautiful story about a mother's promise to her newborn son, Love You Forever is all about the power of a mother's love, the bittersweetness of watching our little one's grow up, and the pain of saying goodbye.Read it with a box of tissues.

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts: First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.""But one day you will move away and leave me to your past. And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts."This book, written from the heart, reminds us that our children do not stay little forever - and that we not let the 'little things' slip by unnoticed.Expect to cry big, fat, salty tears over this one - it's really that powerful.

**"What I couldn't have known was all that you'd be by you being you and giving to me."**Marianne Richmond was inspired to write this beautiful book after watching her four kids grow up.All about wistfully recalling memories of a "littler" time, and coming to terms with their growing independence, this book is as much for mums and dads as it is for our little ones.

**"I wish you more ups than downs."**When we think about the future, we usually wish for health, money and success - but we forget that this is only the part of million small things that we need in order to be truly happy.This book reminds us of everything we should be wishing for, and all of our dreams for our children,… and, yes, it will bring out the squishy, soppy, and sentimental mum in you.

**"...The hardest thing I do is hold you tight, then let you go, and walk away from you."**When Baby Bird says goodbye to his mama at school each morning, he feels sad. Mama Bird feels sad, too. Sometimes it's hard to be apart.But, as Mama Bird says, the love they share is with them always, keeping them close until the best part of the day - when they are together again.Comforting, reassuring, and truly beautiful, this will help you and your little one to understand that separation during school time is only temporary.Although, we shan't lie, it could leave you with more than just one tear in your eye...

"Mama said she would take a medicine called chemotherapy. The medicine worked to stop the cancer from growing, but she might feel sick and tired..."...And lose her crown of hair."The story is about a little boy who desperately wants his mum to be in the family photo, but she - having lost her hair to chemotherapy - doesn't want to be included.Cue Marcus heading off on a heroic mission to find her some hair of her own... and learning that, sometimes, we can't fix everything.We'd like to point out that this may be a little adult for toddlers - try waiting until your child is at least 4-years-old before reading them this emotional story.

**"What I couldn't have known was all that you'd be by you being you and giving to me."**Another touching tale from Marianne Richmond, this book is sure to strike a chord with all loving mums and dads.

**"Someday you will look back on this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small."**A mother's love leads to a mother's dream - every mother's dream - for her child to live life to the fullest.This simple little book connects directly with your heart, and is sure to leave you with wet eyes. For all the right reasons.

**"Once there was a little tree... and she loved a little boy."**Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk... and the tree was happy.But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.And it reminds us that, as parents, we would give our kids everything we have until there was nothing left.Poignant, heartbreaking, and wonderful - all at the same time - this story is guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings.

"Sometimes my mama is laughing when she comes home from work.""Sometimes she's so tired she falls asleep while I found the money out into piles..."After a fire destroys their home and possessions, Rosa, her mother, and grandmother save and save until they can afford to buy one big, comfortable chair.Their happy ending will move you and make you grateful for the small luxuries you have.

**"Is it my fault?"**On the day his daddy leaves, Danny writes a secret question on a slip of paper - and shows it to his teacher, his friend, and, eventually, his mum and dad.The question - and the answer - will leave you with tears in your eyes, particularly if your own family has been rocked by divorce.

"In their hearts and their memories and their laughter, Fox was still there...""Always and forever."When Fox dies the rest of his family are absolutely distraught. How will Mole, Otter and Hare go on without their beloved friend?This wonderful and moving story teaches our little ones all about bereavement, and helps us to understand grief from their perspective.And, yes, it makes us cry in the process.